Ramie

Ramie is one of the oldest textile fibers. It was used in mummy cloths in Egypt during the period 5000-3000 BC and has been grown in China for many centuries. Brazil began the production in the late 1930s with production peaking in 1971 with abt. 30,000 tons. Since then, production has steadily declined as a result of competition with alternative crops, such as soybeans and the importation of synthetic fibers. Production in the Philippines began in the early 1950s, peaking in the mid 1960s with 5,5000 tons.